Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-04
A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE.

High states of civilization are marked by
the sacred estimation placed upon human
life. When we wish to measure our prog
ress in the way of acquiring civilizing in
fuences and civilized conceptions, We may
appeal with safety to this standard.
@Recently an estimable and virtuous lady,
living in Woodin valley, was murdered
foully and brutally by farm hand named
Peter Olsen. Still more recently Chinese
cook, in Tehama county, murdered the
wife of farmer and in both instances the
murderers escaped. Pursuit, in both cases,
was at once instituted, and has been prose-
cuted with greater or less vigor up to the
present time, In the case of the China
men, a body of men in pursuit of the muir
derer encountered Chinaman, who, sus-
pecting that the pursuers had some
animosity against his race, and terrified at
the approach of numbers of armed men,
fled. His pursuers Immediately fired upon
him, killing him instantly. The process
of reasoning which must have guided
these men, under anything like critical ex-
animation, is very peculiar They were
looking for Hong Di, Chinaman Hong
Di was supposed to be in hiding somewhere
in the vicinity. Since Hong was China
man, and since the man before them
was Chinaman, they had two points
of identity. Their process of rea-
soning was after the manner
of our ancient friends, the Sophists. Hong
Di was Chinaman thisman was China
man; therefore this man was Hong Di A
second point of Identification was Hong
Di was fleeing; this Chinaman was fee
ing; therefore this Chinaman was Hong
Di. There might have been lurking
doubt in the minds of the pursuers of
Hong Di as to the identity of the man be-
fore them. In a state of civilization,
wherein human life is held as the most
sacred of all things, the benefit of that
doubt would have been given to the fleeing
Chinaman. That he was denied the bene-
fit of this doubt is an evidence that his
pursuers preferred to take his life by mis-
take than to have been mistaken them
selves in the identity of the man before
them. In short, they killed the China
man upon the theory that he might posi-
bly, be Hong Di, and must nave reasoned
L. -.
Chinaman than to let Hong Di escape
Following this theory, we see no reason
why they did not kill all the Cinnamon in
the vicinity, after the manner of Herod,
who ordered his detectives to murder all
the children under two years of age on the
coast, that the one life he sought might be
taken.
A still more recent incident, however,
will be more shocking to the nervous SEN
sibilities of sensitive people, because the
man killed was not a Chinaman. He
might have been a Chinaman. 1t
was his merit, however, that he was
not. The Eastern States just now are
flooded with immigration literature. and
perhaps in response to a pamphlet issued
by some immigration society this stranger
sought the wilds of California, and located
a piece Of Government land high up on
the TANKS of the Sierras He carved on
one OF the trees standing near the
threshold of his cabin the words, "Home-
stead of Michael siebert,' and on another,
A Haven of Rest y and in this way pro-
claimed his name, the character of his
claim and the state Of his mental satisfac-
ton. He found the soil rich, the climate
inviting and Immediately proceeded to
mind his own business. He had neighbors,
who, observing that he minded his own
business strictly, that he did not rush
around the neighborhood to tell everybody
his name, his race or his country, regarded
him with suspicion. The fact that he had
come into the county stranger, and had
not attempted to run the politics Of the
county, was most conclusive evidence that
he was the murderer of somebody, to say
the least. His retiring disposition, his
reticenee, in fact the phenomenal tendency
manifested by him to mind his own bust
ness, was strong point against his inno-
cence. Some gentlemen living in the
neighborhood by the name of Carver.
hearing of the great reward which had
been offered for the capture of the MUIR
derer Pete Olsen, put their neighbor under
surveillance. He visited their house and
was offered the inequalities of their roof,
not because his entertainers were hos
pitable, not because they had the Arabs
high sense of the demands of hospitality.
but for the purpose of Observing
him, and ascertaining whether there was
bald spot on the back of his head
The fatal bald spot was discovered. The
process of reasoning so ingeniousIy en-
ployed in the case of the Chinaman was
brought into requisition here. Pete Olsen
had bald spot on his head. This man
had bald spot. Therefore this man was
fete oisen- They approached his humble
dwelling, and one of them engaged him in
conversation while two others slipped on
him through the woods with shotguns.
Tne picture presented by this group of
people just before the fatal event is inter-
esting.
Here stands newcomer, his breast
pocket full of immigration literature, ak
in hand, clearing a a spot to plant gar
den. Here are two men crouching in the
woods, slipping up by stealthy steps, aud
another armed with revolver under the
guise of neighboriy visit, stands before
him. Suddenly the good citizen before
him draws revolver and says: 81 arrest
You Tor murder" The stranger, taken by
surprise. not knowing but that bis assail-
ants were robbers attempting to overpower